Dispensing cap for collapsible tubes



y 29, 1952 R. P. WAGNER 2,605,026

DISPENSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed May 22, 1948 gg Rem/flak. P as Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPENSING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Reinhard P. Wagner, Spokane, Wash.

Application May 22, 1948, Serial No. 28,539

2 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to an improved dispensing cap for collapsible tubes and consists generally in a compressible body located normally inside of a metal or stiif cap for such tubes, the body having a vertical, tapering passage for the paste or matter to be dispensed, and converging walls of the body having opposed metal walls which expand and compress the body under manual pressure applied to the tube. The compressibility of the body permits the closing of the passage under normal conditions to retain the fluid matter in the tube and prevent the access of air which usually hardens the material and renders it unfit for use.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention according to the best mode I have thus far devised but it will be understood that various changes and alterations may be made in the exemplified structure within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of the upper portion of a conventional tube showing the cap of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the rubber insert body in the cap.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the valve plates forming a part of the modified form.

Referring now to the drawings wherein I have illustrated the present preferred embodiment of my invention, I have shown a conventional collapsible metal tube 2 of the type used to dispense tooth paste as P or other suitable material. The tube has a neck 4 threaded as at 6 to receive the metal cap 8 threaded as at l0 and having a slot l2 in the end thereof.

Located within the metal cap, I employ a compressible body as 14 preferably of rubber and cylindrical in shape and formed with a-top slit l6 communicating with the inner passage IS the walls of which converge toward the slit and form a tapered passage through the body.

On the opposed converging inner faces of the hollow rubber body [4 a pair of metal plates or blades 20 are secured, as by cementing, and each of these blades is fashioned with an out-turned shoulder 22 that rests upon the annular rim of the neck of the tube P; and the shoulder is retained by thethin inner portions of the compressed body l4. The outer end of each plate or blade is fashioned with an inturned flange 23, and this pair of opposed flanges projecting into the slot l2 of the cap 8 form a dispensing mouth that is initially closed under compression of the body It by the screw cap 8.

Obviously, when filled with a fluid material, as paste, the tube may be compressed or collapsed, manually, thereby forcing the paste from the tube, through the neck, and between the opposed converging plates or blades 20. This action activates the blades slightly on their shoulders as pivots, and the flanges 23 are separated to open the dispensing mouth within the limits of the walls of the slot l2 of the cap 8. Thus the paste will be extruded in ribbon form through the outspread flanges, and when the pressure upon the tube is released, the compressed rubber body will resume its normal position forcing the plates together at 23, and sealing the slit between the two plates 20. I

In Figures 4 and 5 I have illustrated a modified form of the cap of my invention wherein the rubber body I4 instead of having the inner plates, has a pair of end plates 24 abutting at their edges and the line of abutment being aligned with the slit. These end plates have prongs 26 penetrating the body to secure the plates in position. The operation of this form is basically the same as described above and it will be clear that under pressure on the tube, the extruding paste will force the abutting plates apart, to be returned to abutting position when the pressure is released.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a self-sealing dispensing device for a collapsible paste-tube having a threaded neck, a hollow elastic body having interior converging wall-faces terminating in an open end slot, a pair of movable plates aflixed to said faces and .each said plate having an out-turned shoulder supporting said body at its inner end and seated on said neck, the outer ends of said plates protruding through said slot to form a closed mouth,

and an enclosing cap for the body threaded on the neck and having a slot with walls enclosing the mouth.

2. In a self-sealing dispensing device for a collapsible paste-tube having a threaded neck, a. hollow elastic body having interior converging wall faces terminating in an open end slot, a pair of plates on said faces and each having an inturned end flange forming a closed mouth located in the slot, each of said plates having an out-turned shoulder supporting said body at its inner end and seated on said neck, and an enclosing cap for the body threaded on the neck and having a slot with walls enclosing the mouth.

a. wee-Nae 15 4 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,881,488 Gleason Oct. 11, 1932 1,977,227 Berendt Oct. 16, 1934 2,128,752 Lentine Aug. 30, 1938 10 2,135,237 Lewis et a1 Nov. 1, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 8,766 Australia Jan. 13, 1928 

